15 best running leggings that will help you go that extra mile

These sweat-wicking, quick-drying, running-specific leggings from Lululemon are undoubtedly the best on the market. After testing hundreds of leggings over the past seven years, nothing quite compares to Lululemon’s fast and free. With two side drop-in pockets to fit your phone, plus five waistband pockets, you can stash your tech and mid-run snacks with ease – and they never fall down, thanks to their tight waistband and continuous drawcord. Lightweight and cool to the touch, they’re the first pair we reach for on race day, due to their unparalleled comfort.

If you’re looking to buy leggings online, you can purchase fast and free in a slightly longer length – 28in (which we’d recommend to anyone 5ft 7in and over) – but these 25in are designed to sit just above the ankle.

Don’t be fooled by the name of these Sweaty Betty leggings – not only are they great gym leggings, they’re pretty decent for running in, too. Featuring both a side pocket (big enough for your phone) and a handy back zip pocket for your house keys, these stretchy, high-waisted leggings are super flattering and they’re quick-drying, too. They come in a whole host of different colours – from your standard blacks and navy blues, to seriously fun prints and patterns. Our current favourite is the pink floral collage print. Whether you’re into spinning or HIIT, running on the treadmill or outside, these leggings will help you feel supported through whatever your personal trainer throws your way.

Worn by fitness buffs, yogis, and PTs across the globe, Aussie label Lorna Jane is renowned for its supportive and flattering gym gear. For super cold days (we’re talking when it drops below zero degrees), these thermal leggings – cut from LJ excel fabric, which is, essentially, a high-performance fabric that’s exclusive to Lorna Jane – will help to trap your body heat to keep you warm. True to size, we particularly like the high-rise waist and the fact there are two side phone pockets.

If you’re training for a UK spring marathon, you need to prepare to train in all kinds of conditions. Call us mad, but we’re firm believers that few things can be as refreshing (or enjoyable) as running in cold weather, but it can easily be classed as miserable if you’re not appropriately dressed. These recycled therma boost Sweaty Betty leggings are some of our favourites to pull on when running below freezing. Water-resistant with a warm, brushed, fleece-like feel inside, these leggings are soft and warm (without being so warm that you overheat).

Like the power 7/8 leggings, they also have a side pocket – but they’re not quite as stretchy – and feature reflective dots on the thighs and outside calf area for visibility.

Sustainably produced activewear brand Tala – founded in 2019 by fitness entrepreneur and Instagram influencer Grace Beverley – has recently launched its latest FormTech collection, a technical running performance wear line that aims to be functional and look good too. Offering “sustainable style without compromise”, the formtech side pocket running leggings have an elasticated waistband (which helps to keep the leggings sitting on your hips) and have a handy side pocket too.

When we first unwrapped these, we thought they looked a bit basic but, once on, we noticed there was no centre seam at the front (goodbye camel toe) and they feel super lightweight – so much so, you hardly notice you’re running in anything.

Like all of Tala’s products, they are sustainably produced and ethically made, with the fabric made from 82 per cent recycled polyester and 18 per cent elastane.

We lived in these leggings when marathon training. The New Balance impact run tights hug you in a wide-fitting waistband, to keep you comfortably covered.

Made with sweat-wicking, fast-drying technology, even though these leggings feel a little thicker than others on this list, they promise to keep you warm, but not too hot. Previous versions used to have a mesh panel behind the knee, but the newest iteration of the impact run tights have had a bit of a re-design – so no more mesh detailing, instead there’s reflective branding on the thigh and taping down the leg.

We particularly love how much storage these leggings have – including two outside drop-in thigh pockets and a small zippered back pocket. These are a running wardrobe staple.

If you haven’t yet heard of Boston-based run kit brand Tracksmith, you need to get it on your radar (especially if you’re already a fan of the British cycling brand Rapha – because they’re co-founded by the same person and have a very similar style and ethos). Tracksmith, which is opening its very first London store this year, is an independent running brand and, as such, its kit is seriously high quality.

The session tights are a bit of an all-rounder when it comes to running leggings. They’re not particularly flashy with lots of seams and patterns, but it’s their pared-back, back-to-basics staple quality that we love. Mid-rise, they sit just above the hip and feature a sneaky hidden zip pocket (we had to seriously search to find it) for keys and a drop-in pocket at the back. They feel thicker than some of the other leggings on this list, which is why they’re suitable for training runs – although, we must admit, we found ourselves working from home in these too.

You wouldn’t know these Sweaty Betty leggings are reflective unless you took a photo of yourself with the flash on or saw how they reflected in a car’s headlights. This means you can wear these stretchy, flattering leggings in the gym (as well as running, of course) and no one will ever know they’ve got reflective superpowers. But if you’re the sort of person who only has time to squeeze a little run in after work (once the sun has firmly gone down), these running leggings are perfect for evening running or on dull wintery days, because the reflective pattern means you’ll be seen and stay safe.

OK, so these are not cheap. In fact, they’re almost double the price of the other leggings on this list. But if you’re feeling particularly bougie and want to splash the cash, Lucas Hugh merges fashion and performance pretty effortlessly. In fact, it was the first brand to incorporate the fully bonded seam – used in Olympic-quality swimwear – into activewear. The axis leggings are great for anyone who’s looking for a little bit of extra stomach support due to the high-rise bonded waistband with wrap panelling. Ultra glossy, high-quality and stylish, we feel like a character in The Hunger Games wearing these (which is funny, as CEO and creative designer of Lucas Hugh, Anjhe Marcus, actually designed the training outfits featured in the film).

We don’t know about you, but we’re always scrolling past Fabletics ads on Instagram and Facebook, promising decent activewear at a reasonable cost – but we tend to get a bit confused by the membership. Well, now Fabletics has a store in the UK – on London’s Regent Street – you can purchase one-off items without being a member. That said, being a VIP member means getting 30-70 per cent off all regular prices, so, if you’re an activewear fiend, it could be worth signing up. These high-waisted anywhere motion leggings are super sleek and sculpting and they have an internal pocket too.

Founded by sports bra tester, Mari, Maaree doesn’t just offer revolutionary, high-impact sports bras, but tops and leggings, too. The cult cropped leggings are ideal for any shorter women out there who find “full-length” leggings simply too long. With a smoothing, second-skin fit, these versatile leggings are made from recycled nylon gathered from landfills and oceans. Plus, they’re squat-test-approved and enhance your natural shape.

Made from recycled stretch fabric, these luxurious-feeling leggings from Swiss run company On Running are warm enough for cool days and cool enough for those in-between months, too. Featuring a wide waistband with hidden pockets for your phone or keys, and adjustable zips at the hem (which make them super easy to throw on and off), these running leggings also have ribbed panels above the knees – which not only look cool but offer extra warmth and protection as well.

Gone are the days where “I’m on my period” was an excuse not to exercise, these game-changing period-proof leggings from Adidas have a seriously discreet protective layer built-in (honestly, you wouldn’t even know it’s there) so you’re protected on the go. Featuring sweat-wicking technology and a secure, held-in feel, these high-rise tights will empower you to achieve more – whatever time of the month.

If you’re looking for a pair of running leggings that offer a super smooth, silky and lightweight feel (almost like you’re running wearing nothing at all), we recommend trying Lululemon’s base pace leggings. They’re not quite as compressive as the fast and free – and they certainly don’t offer as many pockets – but they do feel seriously slinky and they categorically don’t fall down.

A confidence-boosting legging, the base pace leggings also feature an ultra high-rise fit and are constructed from Lululemon’s signature Nulux for a smoothing feel.

These mid-rise leggings are, hands down, our current favourite running leggings. Founded by a New York running community in 2020, Bandit is definitely a brand you want to be seen repping – and yes, these leggings do ship to the UK (so fear not). When we first pulled on the softspeed cold-weather run tights, we honestly thought they felt too soft to be running leggings (and that, actually, they were designed for yoga instead), thanks to their lightly brushed feel. But once we started pounding the pavements in these, they stuck to our legs like a second skin and didn’t budge. With drawcord and reflective detailing – and those all-important pockets – these sweat-wicking running leggings tick a lot of boxes.